Former Chicago Ald. Sandi Jackson pleaded guilty to a tax offense, about three hours after her husband admitted to misusing campaign funds.

Jackson, wife of Jesse Jackson Jr., was charged Friday with falsifying a tax return and reporting less income than she made. The charge carries a maximum prison sentence of three years.

"She saw this as an opportunity to put this behind her, to admit that she'd made some mistakes in judgement regarding the expenditure of campaign contributions, and so she made the decision to plead guilty today to one tax charge," her attorney, Dan Webb, said after the court appearance. "That's the only thing she pled guilty to because that's the charge the government filed against her."

Just as he did with her husband, Judge Robert Wilkins asked Jackson to verify that she read and understood the plea agreement filed last week.

"Yes sir, I've read every page," Jackson said.

They agreed that because she accepted responsibility for the charge, the sentencing guidelines likely would be lower than the three recommended years, but not guaranteed.

"I can give you three years in prison, regardless of what the guidelines say," Judge Wilkins warned. "Right now, you don't know and I don't know what your sentence will be. But you can't withdraw your plea because you aren't satisfied with the sentence."

Jackson said she understood. She was ordered to surrender her passport and report to a drug evaluation. The judge told her she must live in either D.C. or Chicago, not both.

Jackson resigned last month from her elected position as Chicago’s 7th Ward alderman. For years she received a $5,000 a month check from her husband as his political consultant.

Jackson's case was heard by the same judge who oversaw her husband's hearing earlier in the day.

Jackson Jr. admitted to spending $750,000 of campaign money for personal use and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud and false statements.

"For years I have lived in my campaign," he told the judge, "and I used money that should have been for campaign purposes and was used for personal purposes."

Jackson Jr.'s attorney told reporters he will do everything he can to soften the maximum five years the charges carry and said the former congressman's health is directly linked to his misconduct.

Maybe Jesse Jackson Sr. can go around the country doing dramatic readings of "Green Eggs and Ham" to raise money for better lawyers for their appeal. Maybe Obama will pardon them both when he leaves office.......

Few pardons have had a more lasting effect than President Clinton’s 11th-hour decision to forgive Marc Rich, a wealthy financier who fled the United States shortly before being charged with multiple counts of fraud, racketeering and tax evasion.

Senior Bush and Obama administration officials acknowledged that the furor over the Rich pardon changed the political landscape, making presidents much more cautious about using a Ccnstitutional power that is without limit.

Judge Abner Mikva, who served as one of Clinton's White House counsels and was a mentor to Obama, said the president had confided a deep concern about the Rich affair.

"I think Marc Rich looms larger with Barack Obama than with other presidents because I think he was very, very dismayed by the Marc Rich pardon and the basis on which it appears to have been granted," Mikva said. "To him and to most people, it was the epitome of what could go wrong."

Rich, a commodities-trading billionaire, received his pardon after his ex-wife, Denise, made substantial donations to the Democratic Party and the Clinton Presidential Library. The perception that Clinton had sold a presidential pardon touched a nerve with the public and Congress, which held months of emotional hearings.

Eric Holder, the departing deputy attorney general and current attorney general, expressed emotional regret for his role, which included encouraging Rich’s attorneys to directly approach the White House.

Nixon resigned in the wake of the Watergate scandal on August 9, 1974, and just under a month later newly installed President Gerald Ford gave his predecessor a full and unconditional pardon for any crimes he may have committed while in office.

While many observers decried the pardon as evidence of some backdoor dealing between Ford and Nixon, Ford went on national television to explain that he felt the pardon provided the best way for the country to move on and close the discussion of Nixon's antics.

Many Americans didn't buy this explanation, though; even Ford's own press secretary resigned in disgust.

Richard NixonNixon resigned in the wake of the Watergate scandal on August 9, 1974, and just under a month later newly installed President Gerald Ford gave his predecessor a full and unconditional pardon for any crimes he may have committed while in office.While many observers decried the pardon as evidence of some backdoor dealing between Ford and Nixon, Ford went on national television to explain that he felt the pardon provided the best way for the country to move on and close the discussion of Nixon's antics.Many Americans didn't buy this explanation, though; even Ford's own press secretary resigned in disgust.

Richard NixonNixon resigned in the wake of the Watergate scandal on August 9, 1974, and just under a month later newly installed President Gerald Ford gave his predecessor a full and unconditional pardon for any crimes he may have committed while in office.While many observers decried the pardon as evidence of some backdoor dealing between Ford and Nixon, Ford went on national television to explain that he felt the pardon provided the best way for the country to move on and close the discussion of Nixon's antics.Many Americans didn't buy this explanation, though; even Ford's own press secretary resigned in disgust.

I don't think Ford got money in exchange for pardoning Nixon like Clinton did for Rich........

Rod Blagojevich[(born December 10, 1956) is a former American politician who served as the 40th Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009.

A Democrat, Blagojevich was a State Representative before being elected to the United States House of Representatives representing parts of Chicago. He was elected governor in 2002, the first Democrat to win the office since Daniel Walker's victory 30 years earlier.(and Walker did some time of his own)

In March 2012, Blagojevic began serving a 14-year sentence in federal prison following conviction for corruption including the soliciting of bribes for political appointments including the vacant U.S. Senate seat of President Barack Obama, while in public office.

Clinton got money from Rich's ex-wife for his presidential library. Direct from Rich's widow to his library fund. I don't think I said Clinton got money directly, but you read what you want, reading comprehension challenged low integrity poster.

Will BHO pardon this guy?Rod Blagojevich[(born December 10, 1956) is a former American politician who served as the 40th Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009.A Democrat, Blagojevich was a State Representative before being elected to the United States House of Representatives representing parts of Chicago. He was elected governor in 2002, the first Democrat to win the office since Daniel Walker's victory 30 years earlier.(and Walker did some time of his own)In March 2012, Blagojevic began serving a 14-year sentence in federal prison following conviction for corruption including the soliciting of bribes for political appointments including the vacant U.S. Senate seat of President Barack Obama, while in public office.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Blagojevich

Rich, a commodities-trading billionaire, received his pardon after his ex-wife, Denise, made substantial donations to the Democratic Party and the Clinton Presidential Library. The perception that Clinton had sold a presidential pardon touched a nerve with the public and Congress, which held months of emotional hearings.

Eric Holder, the departing deputy attorney general and current attorney general, expressed emotional regret for his role, which included encouraging Rich’s attorneys to directly approach the White House.

Maybe Bushwhacker can loan them The Little Goat, has he finished it ??? Funny, every president has pardoned people and this couple certainly aren't any danger.

Slewsie dear, you are a genius! Of course Oblamer will pardon the robber barrons known as JJ Jr and his tramp wife. But will his tramp wife stay with him after he got caught in a 3-some with the two college girls last month?

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